# 1980 Individual Speedway World Championship

The 1980 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 35th edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.
With the defending Ivan Mauger failing to qualify for a World Final for the first time since 1966, and Ole Olsen only qualifying as a reserve, the 1980 World Final at the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden was seen as an open final with a number of potential winners. Michael Lee, Bruce Penhall, Dave Jessup and Billy Sanders considered the favourites with Jan Andersson (the only Swedish rider in the World Final), John Davis, Hans Nielsen, Zenon Plech, Chris Morton and Peter Collins all expected to challenge.
Twenty-one-year-old English ace Lee who had only finished 7th in the Intercontinental Final at White City, won his only World Championship with 14 points from his 5 rides. Dave Jessup finished second after defeating Billy Sanders in a runoff when both riders finished on 12 points to give England a 1-2 finish in a World Final.
Michael Lee became only the fifth rider from Great Britain to win speedway's ultimate individual prize, joining Welshman Freddie Williams (1950), and fellow Englishmen Tommy Price (1949), Peter Craven (1955 & 1962) and Peter Collins (1976) as a speedway world champion.

## First round
### British Qualification

| Date | Venue | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
| Preliminary Round |||||
| 8 April | Milton Keynes Stadium, Milton Keynes | Mike Lanham | Rob Hollingworth | David Kennett |
| 9 April | Long Eaton Stadium, Long Eaton | Dave Perks | Dave Morton | Paul Woods |
| 11 April | East of England Arena, Peterborough | Andy Hines | Nicky Allott | Nigel Flatman |
| 11 April | Ellesmere Port Stadium, Ellesmere Port | Peter Prinsloo | Derek Richardson | David Gagen |
| 13 April | Rye House Stadium, Hoddesdon | Melvyn Taylor | Bob Garrad | Ian Clark |
| Quarter-Final |||||
| 27 April | The Shay, Halifax | Mike Lanham | Kevin Hawkins | Dave Morton |

## Second round
### Swedish qualification

* Top 5 in each heat to Swedish final
(4 May, Målilla (Motorbana) Målilla) :
| Pos | Rider | Points |
| 1 | Tommy Johansson | 15 |
| 2 | Tommy Nilsson | 14 |
| 3 | Conny Samuelsson | 11 |
| 4 | Bengt Jansson | 11 |
| 5 | Gert Carlsson | 11 |
| 6 | Per-Ove Gudmundsson | 10+3 |
| 7 | Stefan Salmonsson | 10+2 |
| 8 | Tommy Steen | 8 |
| 9 | Kalle Lindgren | 8 |
| 10 | Torgil Roth | 4 |
| 11 | Peter Carlsson | 4 |
| 12 | Willy Karlsson | 3 |
| 13 | Leif Bergqvist (res) | 3 |
| 14 | Bertil Andersson (res) | 3 |
| 15 | Glenn Andersson | 2 |
| 16 | Lars-Ove Lundgren | 1 |
| 17 | Alf Trofast | 0 |
| 18 | Sven-Erik Andersson | 0 |
(4 May, Gislaved Motorbana Gislaved) :
| Pos | Rider | Points |
| 1 | Anders Michanek | 15 |
| 2 | Bo Wirebrand | 13 |
| 3 | Hans Danielsson | 12 |
| 4 | Lillebror Johansson | 12 |
| 5 | Bengt Gustavsson | 12 |
| 6 | Karl-Erik Claesson | 10 |
| 7 | Thomas Hydling | 9 |
| 8 | Benny Ekberg | 8 |
| 9 | Lennart Bengtsson | 6 |
| 10 | Åke Axelsson | 6 |
| 11 | Börje Ring | 5 |
| 12 | Åke Fridell | 4 |
| 13 | Weine Ström | 4 |
| 14 | Anders Eriksson | 2 |
| 15 | Thomas Engman | 2 |
| 16 | Kent Bäär | 0 |
(8 May, Linköping Motorstadion Linköping) :
| Pos | Rider | Points |
| 1 | Bernt Persson | 15 |
| 2 | Richard Hellsén | 14 |
| 3 | Börje Klingberg | 12 |
| 4 | Jan Ericsson | 11 |
| 5 | Rolf Sundberg | 11 |
| 6 | Uno Johansson | 10 |
| 7 | Jan Davidsson | 10 |
| 8 | Ingemar Andersson | 8 |
| 9 | Christer Nilsson | 6 |
| 10 | Sören Karlsson | 5 |
| 11 | Kent Eriksson | 5 |
| 12 | Peter Johansson | 4 |
| 13 | Anders Törnström | 4 |
| 14 | Ragnar Holm | 3 |
| 15 | Göran Waltersson | 2 |
| 16 | Bo Åstrand | 1 |
| 17 | Leif Andersson | 0 |

### Continental Preliminary round

| Date | Venue | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
| 19 April | Ellermühle Stadium, Landshut | Egon Muller | Waldemar Bacik | Edward Jancarz |
| 20 April | Polonia Bydgoszcz Stadium, Bydgoszcz | Zdeněk Kudrna | Jerzy Rembas | Marek Ziarnik |
| 20 April | Giavera del Montello, Treviso | Milan Špinka | Václav Verner | Herbert Szerecz |
| 20 April | Speedway Žarnovica, Žarnovica | Petr Ondrašík | Jan Hadek | Petr Kučera |
| Australian Final 26 January 1980 Sydney Showground, Sydney First 9 to Australasian Final Pos.RiderTotal 1Billy Sanders15 2Phil Crump12+3 3John Titman12+2 4Steve Koppe10 5Mike Farrell10 6Phil Herne10 7Glyn Taylor9 8Glenn McDonald9 9Keith Wright7 10Rob Maxfield6 11Peter Collins4 12Lou Sansom3 13Danny Kennedy2 14Rob Moores2 15Alan Lorymer2 16Dean Van Bibra1 | New Zealand Final 2 February 1980 Western Springs Stadium, Auckland First 7 to Australasian Final Pos.RiderHeat ScoresTotal 1Larry Ross3,3,2,3,314 2David Bargh3,3,3,3,214 3Tony Briggs2,3,2,2,312 4Graeme Stapleton3,2,3,2,111 5Mitch Shirra1,3,1,3,311 6Wayne Brown3,2,3,3,-11 7Mike Fullerton2,1,1,2,39 8Colin Tucker2,0,2,1,27 9Roger Wright1,2,3,1,07 10Max Brown0,2,2,1,16 11Neil Abrahams2,1,0,0,25 12Greg Joynt1,1,1,2,x5 13Colin Farquharson1,F,0,0,23 14Greame Beardsley0,F,1,-,-1 15Paul FewingsF,1,F,-,-1 16James MooreE,0,-,-,-0 R1William Aulsfold0,0,1,12 R2Roger Pauling0,00 |

### British semi-finals

| Pos. | Rider | Points |
| 1 | Peter Collins | 15 |
| 2 | Gordon Kennett | 13 |
| 3 | Kevin Jolly | 13 |
| 4 | Reg Wilson | 10 |
| 5 | John Davis | 9 |
| 6 | John Louis | 9 |
| 7 | Melvyn Taylor | 8 |
| 8 | Mike Lanham | 7 |
| 9 | Alan Grahame | 7 |
| 10 | Kevin Hawkins | 6 |
| 11 | Nigel Flatman | 6 |
| 12 | Roger Johns | 6 |
| 13 | Paul Woods | 6 |
| 14 | Alan Molyneux | 0 |
| 15 | Jim McMillan | 0 |
| Pos. | Rider | Points |
| 1 | Dave Jessup | 14 |
| 2 | Chris Morton | 11 |
| 3 | Dave Morton | 11 |
| 4 | Peter Prinsloo | 11 |
| 5 | Michael Lee | 9 |
| 6 | Bobby Beaton | 9 |
| 7 | Ian Cartwright | 8 |
| 8 | Phil Collins | 8 |
| 9 | Les Collins | 7 |
| 10 | Kenny Carter | 7 |
| 11 | Steve Bastable | 7 |
| 12 | Joe Owen | 6 |
| 13 | Malcolm Simmons | 6 |
| 14 | Andy Grahame | 3 |
| 15 | Bobby Garrad | 2 |
| 16 | Ian Clark | 1 |

## Third round
### Continental quarter-finals

* Top 32 to Continental semi-finals
| Date | Venue | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
| 3 May | Slaný Speedway Stadium, Slaný | Mikhail Starostin | Jiří Štancl | Jan Verner |
| 4 May | Mladost Stadium, Prelog | Henny Kroeze | Václav Verner | Milan Špinka |
| 4 May | Stadion Wiener Neustadt | Zdeněk Kudrna | Jerzy Rembas | Piotr Pyszny |

### Swedish Final

* 20 May 1980
* Norrköping Motorstadion, Norrköping
* Winner to World Final, riders 2–5 to Nordic Final
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos |
| | (13) Jan Andersson | 13 | | | | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | 3 | | 2 | | | | | 3 | | 13 | 1 |
| | (15) Richard Hellsen | 12 | | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | | | | X | 3 | | | | 12 | 2 |
| | (2) Tommy Johansson | 12 | 2 | | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | 12 | 3 |
| 4 | (8) Anders Michanek | 11 | | 3 | | | | | | 3 | | | 2 | | | 1 | | | 2 | | | | 11 | 4 |
| 5 | (14) Bernt Persson | 11 | | | | 1 | | 2 | | | | | 3 | | 2 | | | | | | | 3 | 11 | 5 |
| 6 | (9) Bengt Jansson | 10 | | | 1 | | 2 | | | | | | 1 | | | | | 3 | | 3 | | | 10 | 6 |
| 7 | (11) Tommy Nilsson | 9 | | | 2 | | | | 2 | | 3 | | | | | 0 | | | | | | 2 | 9 | 7 |
| 8 | (16) Borje Klingberg | 7 | | | | 0 | | | | 1 | 2 | | | | | | 3 | | | 1 | | | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | (1) Hans Danielsson | 7 | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 3 | | | | 1 | | | | 7 | 9 |
| 10 | (10) Rolf Sundberg | 6 | | | 3 | | | X | | | | | | 1 | | | 2 | | 0 | | | | 6 | 10 |
| 11 | (6) Per-Ove Gundmundsson | 6 | | 2 | | | | 1 | | | 0 | | | | | | | 1 | | | 2 | | 6 | 11 |
| 12 | (4) Bo Wirebrand | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | 0 | | | | 2 | | | | X | | | | - | 5 | 12 |
| 13 | (7) Conny Samuelsson | 3 | | 1 | | | | | 1 | | | | | 0 | 1 | | | | | 0 | | | 3 | 13 |
| 14 | (12) Lillebror Johansson | 2 | | | 0 | | | | | 2 | | E | | | - | | | | | | - | | 2 | 14 |
| 15 | (5) Bengt Gustavsson | 1 | | 0 | | | 0 | | | | | 1 | | | | | 0 | | | | | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| 16 | (3) Jan Eriksson | 0 | E | | | | | | F | | | | F | | | | - | | | | - | | 0 | 16 |
| R1 | (R1) Karl-Erik Claesson | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | | | 2 | | | 1 | 1 | 4 | R1 |
| R2 | (R2) Uno Johansson | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 0 | | 1 | R2 |
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos |
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify
| gate A - inside | gate B | gate C | gate D - outside |

### Finland Final

* Eteläpuisto, Tampere
* 27 August 1979, top 3 to 1980 Nordic final
| Pos. | Rider | Total |
| 1 | Kai Niemi | 12 |
| 2 | Ilkka Teromaa | 9 |
| 3 | Veijo Tuoriniemi | 9 |
| 4 | Ari Koponen | 8 |
| 5 | Seppo Palomaki | 8 |
| 6 | Olli Turkia | 8 |
| 7 | Esko Myllari | 8 |
| 8 | Timo Kiansten | 7 |
| 9 | Pekka Hautamaki | 6 |
| 10 | Hannu Lehtonen | 6 |
| 11 | Heimo Kaikko | 4 |
| 12 | Markku Haapala | 4 |
| 13 | Veli Pekka Kunelius | 3 |
| 14 | Olli Tyrvainen | 3 |
| 15 | Ismo Kivela | 2 |
| 16 | Jarmo Puttonen | 0 |
| 17 | Matti Hyyrylainen (res) | 0 |

### Danish Final

* 4 May 1980
* Fredericia Speedway Stadium, Fredericia
* First 3 to Nordic final (Olsen, Nielsen & Thomsen seeded through)
| Pos. | Rider | Total |
| 1 | Bo Petersen | 15 |
| 2 | Preben Eriksen | 13 |
| 3 | Bent Rasmussen | 12+3 |
| 4 | Finn Rune Jensen | 12+2 |
| 5 | Finn Thomsen | 10 |
| 6 | Mike Lohmann | 8 |
| 7 | Alf Busk | 8 |
| 8 | Jens Henry Nielsen | 7 |
| 9 | Lars Vinding | 6 |
| 10 | Arne Cruse | 6 |
| 11 | Gunnar Hansen | 6 |
| 12 | Finn Lundahl | 5 |
| 13 | Steen Mastrup | 5 |
| 14 | Hans Ove Cristiansen | 3 |
| 15 | Svend Lund | 3 |
| 16 | Gunnar Svendsen | 1 |

### Norwegian Final

* 18 May 1980
* Geiteryggen Speedwaybane, Skien
* First 3 to Nordic final
| Pos. | Rider | Total |
| 1 | Reidar Eide | 14 |
| 2 | Audun Ove Olsen | 13 |
| 3 | Rolf Gramstad | 12+3 |
| 4 | Dag Haaland | 12+2 |
| 5 | Trond Helge Skretting | 10 |
| 6 | Terje Tollefsen | 8 |
| 7 | Sigvart Pedersen | 7 |
| 8 | Kjell Gimre | 7 |
| 9 | Jon Hovind | 6 |
| 10 | Roy Otto | 6 |
| 11 | Jorn Haugvaldstad | 6 |
| 12 | Toralf Holen | 6 |
| 13 | Asgeir Bjerga | 4 |
| 14 | Geir Aasland | 4 |
| 15 | Rolf Havirstad | 2 |
| 16 | Dagvinn Jorgensen | 2 |

### Australasian Final

* 2 February 1980
* Ruapuna Speedway, Christchurch
* First 5 to Commonwealth Final plus 1 reserve
* Ivan Mauger seeded to Commonwealth final
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
| | (10) Billy Sanders | 15 | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | | | | 3 | | | 3 | | 3 | | | | 15 | 1 | |
| | (1) John Titman | 13 | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | | 13 | 2 | |
| | (16) Larry Ross | 12 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | 3 | | | | | | 2 | | | 1 | | | 12 | 3 | |
| 4 | (2) Mitch Shirra | 12 | 2 | | | | | 2 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | 12 | 4 | |
| 5 | (4) Phil Crump | 11 | 1 | | | | | | | 2 | | | | 2 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | 11 | 5 | 3 |
| 6 | (7) Tony Briggs | 11 | | 2 | | | | | 3 | | | | | 1 | 2 | | | | | 3 | | | 11 | 6 | 2 |
| 7 | (6) Mike Farrell | 10 | | 3 | | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | | | | | 2 | | | 3 | | 10 | 7 | |
| 8 | (14) Phil Herne | 8 | | | | 2 | | 0 | | | | | 3 | | 1 | | | | | | | 2 | 8 | 8 | |
| 9 | (3) Steve Koppe | 7 | 0 | | | | | | 2 | | | | 2 | | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | 7 | 9 | |
| 10 | (11) Glyn Taylor | 5 | | | 2 | | | | 1 | | 0 | | | | | 2 | | | | | | 0 | 5 | 10 | |
| 11 | (5) Gleen McDonald | 5 | | 0 | | | 2 | | | | | 2 | | | | | 0 | | | | | 1 | 5 | 11 | |
| 12 | (15) Graeme Stapleton | 3 | | | | 1 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | 3 | 12 | |
| 13 | (13) Keith Wright | 2 | | | | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | 0 | | 0 | | | | | 1 | | 2 | 13 | |
| 14 | (9) David Bargh | 2 | | | 1 | | 0 | | | | | | 1 | | | | | 0 | | 0 | | | 2 | 14 | |
| 15 | (8) Mike Fullerton | 2 | | 1 | | | | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | 0 | | | | 2 | 15 | |
| 16 | (12) Wayne Brown | 1 | | | 0 | | | | | 1 | | 0 | | | 0 | | | | | | 0 | | 1 | 16 | |
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify
| gate A - inside | gate B | gate C | gate D - outside |

### British Final

* 4 June 1980
* Brandon Stadium, Coventry
* First 10 to Commonwealth Final plus 1 reserve
| Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total |
| 1 | Dave Jessup | (3,3,3,3,3) | 15 |
| 2 | Michael Lee | (3,3,3,3,2) | 14 |
| 3 | Phil Collins | (1,2,2,3,3) | 11 |
| 4 | Peter Collins | (3,3,0,3,1) | 10 |
| 5 | Gordon Kennett | (2,2,2,2,2) | 10 |
| 6 | John Louis | (3,1,3,1,1) | 9 |
| 7 | John Davis | (X,2,1,2,3) | 8 |
| 8 | Chris Morton | (0,1,1,2,3) | 7 |
| 9 | Melvyn Taylor | (2,1,X,2,2) | 7 |
| 10 | Reg Wilson | (2,2,1,1,0) | 6+3 |
| 11 | Bobby Beaton | (0,1,3,0,2) | 6+2 |
| 12 | Ian Cartwright | (1,0,2,1,1) | 5 |
| 13 | Dave Morton | (1,3,0,0,0) | 4 |
| 14 | Kevin Jolly | (2,0,1,0,1) | 4 |
| 15 | Peter Prinsloo | (2,1,0,1,0) | 4 |
| 16 | Mike Lanham | (0,0,0,0,0) | 0 |

## Fourth round
### Continental semi-finals

| Pos. | Rider | Points |
| 1 | Jiří Štancl | 14 |
| 2 | Edward Jancarz | 12 |
| 3 | Petr Ondrašík | 11 |
| 4 | Andrzej Huszcza | 11 |
| 5 | Egon Müller | 10 |
| 6 | Zenon Plech | 10 |
| 7 | Nikolaj Kornev | 9 |
| 8 | Michail Starostin | 9 |
| 9 | Waldemar Bacik | 8 |
| 10 | Petr Kucera | 6 |
| 11 | Roman Jankowski | 5 |
| 12 | Valerij Gordeev | 4 |
| 13 | Jan Hadek | 4 |
| 14 | Jan Verner | 3 |
| 15 | Ladislav Hradecky | 2 |
| 16 | Zytun Gafurov | 1 |
| Pos. | Rider | Points |
| 1 | Zdenek Kudrna | 13 |
| 2 | Václav Verner | 13 |
| 3 | Aleš Dryml Sr. | 11 |
| 4 | Jerzy Rembas | 10 |
| 5 | Milan Špinka | 9 |
| 6 | Andy Cusworth | 6 |
| 7 | Wojciech Zabialowicz | 8+3 |
| 8 | Georg Hack | 8+2 |
| 9 | Henny Kroeze | 8+1 |
| 10 | Herbert Szerecz | 7 |
| 11 | Grigory Khlinovsky | 7 |
| 12 | Sergej Denisov | 6 |
| 13 | Piotr Pyszny | 4 |
| 14 | Walter Grubmüller | 3 |
| 15 | Frits Koppe | 1 |
| 16 | Marek Ciarnik (res) | 0 |

### Commonwealth Final

* 29 June 1980
* Wimbledon Stadium, London
* First 9 to Intercontinental Final plus 1 reserve
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
| | (2) Dave Jessup | 14 | 3 | | | | | 2 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | 14 | 1 | |
| | (14) John Louis | 13 | | | | 2 | | 3 | | | | | 2 | | 3 | | | | | | | 3 | 13 | 2 | |
| | (3) Ivan Mauger | 12 | 2 | | | | | | 3 | | | | 1 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | 12 | 3 | |
| 4 | (8) John Davis | 11 | | 1 | | | | | | 2 | | | 3 | | | 2 | | | 3 | | | | 11 | 4 | |
| 5 | (9) Billy Sanders | 10 | | | 3 | | 3 | | | | | | 0 | | | | | 3 | | 1 | | | 10 | 5 | |
| 6 | (4) Chris Morton | 11 | 0 | | | | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | 11 | 6 | |
| 7 | (5) Michael Lee | 9 | | 3 | | | 2 | | | | | 2 | | | | | 1 | | | | | 1 | 9 | 7 | |
| 8 | (7) Mitch Shirra | 9 | | 2 | | | | | 2 | | | | | 1 | 2 | | | | | 2 | | | 9 | 8 | |
| 9 | (10) Peter Collins | 7 | | | 1 | | | 0 | | | | | | 3 | | | 2 | | 1 | | | | 7 | 9 | |
| 10 | (15) Gordon Kennett | 6 | | | | 3 | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | | | | 1 | 0 | | | | 6 | 10 | 3 |
| 11 | (1) Larry Ross | 6 | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | | | 6 | 11 | E |
| 12 | (12) Phil Collins | 5 | | | 2 | | | | | 1 | | 0 | | | 0 | | | | | | 2 | | 5 | 12 | |
| 13 | (6) John Titman | 4 | | 0 | | | | 1 | | | 3 | | | | | | | 0 | | | E | | 4 | 13 | |
| 14 | (11) Melvyn Taylor | 3 | | | F | | | | 0 | | 2 | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 0 | 3 | 14 | |
| 15 | (13) Phil Crump | 2 | | | | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | 0 | | 0 | | | | | 1 | | 2 | 15 | |
| 16 | (16) Reg Wilson | 0 | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | 0 | | | | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 0 | 16 | |
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify
| gate A - inside | gate B | gate C | gate D - outside |

### American Final

* 16 November 1979
* Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim
* First 2 to Intercontinental Final
| Pos. | Rider | Total |
| 1 | Bruce Penhall | 14 |
| 2 | Scott Autrey | 13+3 |
| 3 | Dennis Sigalos | 13+2 |
| 4 | Ron Preston | 13+1 |
| 5 | Shawn Moran | 10 |
| 6 | Gene Woods | 10 |
| 7 | John Cook | 9 |
| 8 | Mike Faria | 7 |
| 9 | Bobby Schwartz | 5 |
| 10 | Alan Christian | 5 |
| 11 | Denny Pyeatt | 5 |
| 12 | Duane Yarrow | 5 |
| 13 | Brad Oxley | 4 |
| 14 | John Santona | 4 |
| 15 | Dan McNeill | 3 |
| 16 | Kelly Moran | 1 |
| 17 | Larry Kosta | 0 |

### Nordic Final

* 15 June 1980
* Geiteryggen Speedwaybane, Skien
* First 5 to Intercontinental Final
| Pos. | Rider | Total |
| 1 | Hans Nielsen | 15 |
| 2 | Ole Olsen | 14 |
| 3 | Finn Thomsen | 13 |
| 4 | Bent Rasmussen | 12 |
| 5 | Kai Niemi | 10 |
| 6 | Ila Teromaa | 8 |
| 7 | Bo Petersen | 8 |
| 8 | Hans Danielsson | 7 |
| 9 | Tommy Johansson | 7 |
| 10 | Preben Eriksen | 6 |
| 11 | Rolf Gramstad | 5 |
| 12 | Bernt Persson | 5 |
| 13 | Veijo Tyoriniemi | 4 |
| 14 | Audun Ove Olsen | 2 |
| 15 | Reidar Eide | 1 |
| 16 | Bengt Jansson | 0 |

## Fifth round
### Continental Final

* 27 July 1980
* Santa Marina Stadium, Lonigo
* First 5 to World Final plus 1 reserve
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos |
| | (16) Zenon Plech | 14 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | 3 | | | | | | 3 | | | 2 | | | 14 | 1 | 3 |
| | (13) Jiří Štancl | 14 | | | | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | 3 | | 3 | | | | | 3 | | 14 | 2 | 2 |
| | (7) Aleš Dryml Sr. | 12 | | 1 | | | | | 3 | | | | | 2 | 3 | | | | | 3 | | | 12 | 3 | |
| 4 | (1) Egon Müller | 11 | 3 | | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | | | 2 | | | | 3 | | | | 11 | 4 | |
| 5 | (5) Petr Ondrašík | 11 | | 2 | | | 2 | | | | | 2 | | | | | 2 | | | | | 3 | 11 | 5 |
| 6 | (6) Václav Verner | 9 | | 3 | | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | | | | | 2 | | | 2 | | 9 | 6 |
| 7 | (4) Mikhail Starostin | 7 | 2 | | | | | | | 2 | | | | F | | | | 3 | | | | E | 7 | 7 |
| 8 | (8) Jerzy Rembas | 7 | | X | | | | | | 1 | | | 3 | | | 1 | | | 2 | | | | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | (14) Georg Hack | 7 | | | | 1 | | 2 | | | | | 2 | | F | | | | | | | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| 10 | (11) Milan Špinka | 6 | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | 0 | | | | | 0 | | | | | | 1 | 6 | 10 |
| 11 | (10) Zdeněk Kudrna | 6 | | | X | | | 3 | | | | | | 1 | | | 1 | | 1 | | | | 6 | 11 |
| 12 | (2) Andrzej Huszcza | 6 | F | | | | | E | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | | 1 | | | 6 | 12 |
| 13 | (3) Andy Cusworth | 3 | 1 | | | | | | 0 | | | | 1 | | | | 0 | | | | 1 | | 3 | 13 |
| 14 | (12) Wojciech Żabiałowicz | 2 | | | 1 | | | | | 0 | | 0 | | | 1 | | | | | | F | | 2 | 14 |
| 15 | (15) Nikolay Kornev | 2 | | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | | | | E | F | | | | 2 | 15 |
| 16 | (9) Edward Jancarz | 0 | | | F | | - | | | | | | - | | | | | - | | | | | 0 | 16 |
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos |
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify
| gate A - inside | gate B | gate C | gate D - outside |

### Intercontinental Final

* 3 August 1980
* White City Stadium, London
* First 10 to World Final plus 1 reserve
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos |
| | (1) Chris Morton | 12 | 2 | | | | 1 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | | | | 12 | 1 | 3 |
| | (5) Bruce Penhall | 12 | | 3 | | | 3 | | | | | 1 | | | | | 3 | | | | | 2 | 12 | 2 | 2 |
| | (15) Billy Sanders | 11 | | | | 1 | | | 3 | | | 3 | | | | | | 2 | 2 | | | | 11 | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | (3) Kai Niemi | 11 | 3 | | | | | | 2 | | | | 2 | | | | 1 | | | | 3 | | 11 | 4 | 2 |
| 5 | (16) Finn Thomsen | 10 | | | | 2 | | | | 2 | 1 | | | | | | 2 | | | 3 | | | 10 | 5 |
| 6 | (8) Dave Jessup | 9 | | 2 | | | | | | 3 | | | E | | | 3 | | | 1 | | | | 9 | 6 |
| 7 | (13) Michael Lee | 9 | | | | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | 3 | | 1 | | | | | 2 | | 9 | 7 |
| 8 | (9) John Davis | 9 | | | 1 | | 2 | | | | | | 3 | | | | | 1 | | 2 | | | 9 | 8 |
| 9 | (4) Hans Nielsen | 8 | 1 | | | | | | | 1 | | | | X | | | | 3 | | | | 3 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | (2) Peter Collins | 7 | 0 | | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | | 2 | | | | 0 | | | 7 | 10 |
| 11 | (7) Ole Olsen | 6 | | 1 | | | | | 1 | | | | | 2 | 1 | | | | | 1 | | | 6 | 11 |
| 12 | (11) Scott Autrey | 6 | | | 3 | | | | 0 | | 2 | | | | | 0 | | | | | | 1 | 6 | 12 |
| 13 | (14) Ivan Mauger | 5 | | | | 0 | | 2 | | | | | 1 | | 2 | | | | | | | 0 | 5 | 13 |
| 14 | (12) John Louis | 3 | | | 2 | | | | | 0 | | 0 | | | 0 | | | | | | 1 | | 3 | 14 |
| 15 | (6) Mitch Shirra | 1 | | 0 | | | | 1 | | | 0 | | | | | | | 0 | | | 0 | | 1 | 15 |
| 16 | (10) Bent Leif Rasmussen | 0 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | | | | X | | | E | | - | | | | 0 | 16 |
| R1 | (R1) Gordon Kennett | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | R1 |
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos |
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify
| gate A - inside | gate B | gate C | gate D - outside |

## World Final

* 5 September 1980
* Ullevi, Gothenburg
* Referee: Torrie Kittlesen
* Attendance: 35,000 (approx)
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
| | (9) Michael Lee | 14 | | | 2 | | 3 | | | | | | 3 | | | | | 3 | | 3 | | | 14 | 1 | |
| | (10) Dave Jessup | 12 | | | 3 | | | 2 | | | | | | 2 | | | 2 | | 3 | | | | 12 | 2 | 3 |
| | (13) Billy Sanders | 12 | | | | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | 3 | | 2 | | | | | 3 | | 12 | 3 | 2 |
| 4 | (5) Jan Andersson | 11 | | 3 | | | 0 | | | | | 2 | | | | | 3 | | | | | 3 | 11 | 4 | |
| 5 | (1) Bruce Penhall | 9 | 3 | | | | 2 | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | | | 9 | 5 | |
| 6 | (2) John Davis | 9 | 2 | | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 3 | | | | 2 | | | 9 | 6 | |
| 7 | (11) Peter Collins | 8 | | | 1 | | | | 3 | | 3 | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 0 | 8 | 7 | |
| 8 | (12) Kai Niemi | 8 | | | 0 | | | | | 1 | | 3 | | | 2 | | | | | | 2 | | 8 | 8 | |
| 9 | (7) Chris Morton | 8 | | 2 | | | | | 1 | | | | | 1 | 3 | | | | | 1 | | | 8 | 9 | |
| 10 | (14) Finn Thomsen | 7 | | | | 2 | | 3 | | | | | 1 | | 0 | | | | | | | 1 | 7 | 10 | |
| 11 | (4) Hans Nielsen | 7 | 1 | | | | | | | 2 | | | | 0 | | | | 2 | | | | 2 | 7 | 11 | |
| 12 | (8) Aleš Dryml Sr. | 5 | | 0 | | | | | | 3 | | | 2 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | | 5 | 12 | |
| 13 | (15) Jiří Štancl | 5 | | | | 1 | | | 2 | | | 0 | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | 5 | 13 | |
| 14 | (6) Egon Muller | 4 | | 1 | | | | 0 | | | 2 | | | | | | | E | | | 1 | | 4 | 14 | |
| 15 | (16) Zenon Plech | 1 | | | | E | | | | 0 | 0 | | | | | | 1 | | | 0 | | | 1 | 15 | |
| 16 | (3) Petr Ondrašík | 0 | 0 | | | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | | | | 0 | | 0 | 16 | |
| R1 | (R1) Ole Olsen | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | R1 |
| R2 | (R2) Václav Verner | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | R2 |
| R3 | (R3) Hans Danielsson | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | R3 |
| Placing | Rider | Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | Pos | 21 |
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify
| gate A - inside | gate B | gate C | gate D - outside |